The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 106 A Duel Beneath the Moonlight

That was clearly not a martial art designed to be mastered.

It became apparent as one trained in it—Great Falling Blossom Swordsmanship wasn't meant to be learned by ordinary means.

'…Damn it.'

Occasionally, such martial arts exist: techniques that work only in theory. Great Falling Blossom Swordsmanship was one of them.

It required the foundational mastery of Reverse Heaven Techniques, making its mastery an act of madness.

"Damn it…!"

If either Jace or Dylan had defeated Vera, this wouldn't have happened.

He wouldn't have needed to attach the cursed limb of a demonic cultist to himself.

Aetheris glanced down at his left arm.

The arm was black and shriveled, thin as if it belonged to a corpse.

Yet, it was unnaturally hard, with a grip strong enough to crush coins effortlessly.

"…It wasn't even a proper sword."

Not even a blade shrouded in Sword energy had pierced his arm. He had tested it himself, to no avail.

While the Sect Leader's Sword Force had left a scratch, it had healed almost instantly.

Unless severed completely in one strike, the arm was indestructible.

Aetheris knew it well—his strength had grown undeniably.

The intricate reversals required by Reverse Heaven Techniques were being resolved as the arm of the Demonic Sect's Leader slowly penetrated his body's energy pathways.

By now, it felt more natural to circulate his Internal Energy in reverse.

About fifteen days of training had passed when he heard the news.

The source of all this calamity…

Vera had returned from her mission.

Scarlet Crown Chamber.

The residence and office of the Sect Leader of Suncrest.

Gideon, the leader of the sect, leaned back in a wooden chair carved with phoenix motifs, his hand pressed to his forehead.

Standing before him, Magnus bore an equally grim expression.

"She returned safely?"

Gideon asked again, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Ebon Akrest had been clear—Vera wouldn't return unscathed.

Escort missions were long, arduous, and treacherous.

"…That's what they say," Magnus replied, bowing his head.

Though it wasn't his fault, he still felt the weight of the situation.

Gideon refrained from reprimanding him; the mistake wasn't his.

"It was said that they would confront Bloodshadow Pavilion," Gideon mused.

"Bloodshadow Pavilion?" Magnus repeated. He knew exactly what kind of organization that was—thanks to Gideon.

"Yes, I had intended to root them out before they grew any larger," Gideon said.

"But given what you've heard…"

"…Hah. It's absurd," Gideon muttered, his tone filled with both amusement and frustration.

They had supposedly crushed the remnants of Bloodshadow Pavilion alongside the Iron Fist Sect.

While it was known that Bloodshadow Pavilion practiced Bloodshadow Arts, could they truly build a safehouse for such techniques?

Bloodshadow Pavilion, as known in the Martial World, didn't establish havens—it thrived solely on individual capability.

"What will you do?" Magnus asked quietly.

Vera had gained fame at the Iron Fist Sect, defeated remnants of Bloodshadow Pavilion, and returned the relic of the Eastern Mountain Fiery Blade clan.

Both men understood the implication.

If left unchecked, Vera would become the face of Suncrest, no matter how much they tried to promote someone else.

There was only one solution.

"We must push Aetheris harder," Gideon declared.

"Build his reputation through achievements?"

"Simply being recognized as a master of Great Falling Blossom Swordsmanship should suffice," Gideon said with a sly grin.

Great Falling Blossom Swordsmanship was a legendary art.

In the history of Suncrest, only two individuals had ever mastered it: the grandmaster who created it and Eclipse, the Sword Sovereign of Suncrest, a prodigy born with the Heavenly Martial Body.

With the Great Falling Blossom Swordsmanship, Eclipse had surpassed the Swordmaster himself, earning the title of Sword Sovereign, recognized as the greatest swordsman of his time.

"Can Aetheris really master it?"

"That creature has the strength for it," Gideon replied.

The ghastly arm of a demon, black and withered, yet alive.

The monstrous entity once imprisoned beneath Suncrest's Southern Peak—the left arm of the Demonic Sect's Leader.

Even now, Aetheris's energy pathways were being distorted, twisted to accommodate demonic techniques.

The Left Arm of the Demonic Sect, as it was known, was warping his body.

But that was all it could do.

Thanks to the Demonic Sealing Silver Needles, embedded in his core, heart, and neck, the arm could not completely dominate him:

It couldn't seize his core, leaving him control over his energy.It couldn't take over his heart, preventing it from holding his life hostage.It couldn't invade his mind, leaving his consciousness intact.

Had they been dealing with the torso or heart of Demonic Sect, even the Demonic Sealing Silver Needles would have failed.

But it was only the left arm—and not even his dominant one at that.

Though it occasionally rebelled and tried to harm Aetheris, the effects could be suppressed using the Clear Mind Technique.

At this rate, Aetheris would undoubtedly master the Great Falling Blossom Swordsmanship.

A disciple bearing the name of Suncrest would dominate the world under their banner.

"…Once Aetheris masters the Great Falling Blossom Swordsmanship, no one will dare say Suncrest is inferior to Celestial Sword Sect or the Iron Fist Sect," Gideon murmured with conviction.

"Greetings to Master Aetheris," Vera said, bowing her head under the clear, bright moonlight.

Aiden, though not bowing himself, mirrored the respect in his posture.

"What brings you all the way here, Senior Brother?" he asked.

"I heard that your adorable disciple has returned. I thought I might welcome her back," Aetheris replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Aiden narrowed his eyes.

During the three to four months that Vera had been away, Aetheris had drastically reduced his appearances outside. On the rare occasions he was seen, he appeared increasingly haggard.

At first, Aiden had assumed it was due to intense closed-door training.

But now, seeing the bandages wrapped tightly around his left arm, he knew better.

This wasn't normal.

If it were merely an injury, there would be no need for the crimson bandages inscribed with dense Daoist Scriptures.

Until now, the long sleeves of his robe had concealed them.

But why show them now?

"I saw Jace and Dylan recently, Aiden," Aetheris said suddenly.

"…Senior Brother, they are my disciples now," Aiden replied calmly.

"Yes, you broke the natural order and took them," Aetheris said, his bloodshot eyes glaring.

Dark shadows underlined his eyes, the face of someone who hadn't rested in a long time.

"Yes, breaking the natural order… I won't deny it," Aiden admitted.

By his own admission, taking a disciple already under the care of another master was akin to betraying the moral principles of the martial world.

But circumstances had changed.

"However," Aiden added, "weren't you just as guilty?"

"What?" Aetheris snapped.

"You accepted the wager, Senior Brother. We both staked our disciples as the terms. At that point, does it even matter who broke the natural order? We both did," Aiden said firmly.

"…Ha," Aetheris scoffed, dragging a hand down his face.

But he couldn't argue—the wager had indeed happened, with Grandmaster Thorne himself bearing witness.

"…It was an unfair wager," Aetheris muttered.

"How so?" Aiden asked, tilting his head.

"You knew that girl was a monster when you proposed it!"

At that, Aiden couldn't hold back his laughter any longer.

Vera glanced up at him, her expression unreadable.

The mocking laughter Aiden directed at his senior brother felt fresh and audacious, even to her.

"Are you saying my judgment was superior to yours, and that makes it unfair? Senior Brother, you have a rare talent—for making others laugh. Hahaha!"

"Are you looking to die, mocking your Senior Brother like that?" Aetheris snarled.

"You're the one who mocked yourself, Senior Brother. Don't aim your frustrations at an innocent party," Aiden retorted, cutting off his laughter abruptly.

Even so, a faint smile lingered on his lips.

For a long moment, Aetheris said nothing, staring at him with clenched teeth.

Finally, he drew his sword.

Vera instantly stepped in front of her master, her left hand resting lightly on her scabbard.

"Vera, step aside," Aiden said, his voice lower than usual.

Without a word, Vera moved aside but continued to watch her master intently.

Aiden, however, still didn't draw his sword.

"What is that left arm, Senior Brother?" Aiden asked.

"It's none of your concern," Aetheris snapped.

"And the sword in your right hand?"

"I'm still deciding," Aetheris replied, his tone cold and cryptic.

Aiden frowned, as did Vera.

Deciding? About what?

A simple deduction suggested he was contemplating his next move in this encounter.

But why voice such thoughts aloud?

More troublingly, his eyes carried the glazed look of someone possessed.

"If it's troubling you that much, let me help you resolve it," Aiden offered.

"With your tongue, maybe. But you won't beat me with your sword," Aetheris sneered, his eyes narrowing as he raised his blade toward Aiden.

Under the cold moonlight, the sword glimmered ominously.

"Senior Brother, you've miscalculated," Aiden said coolly.

"…What?"

"You're forgetting something. Vera is here as well. As far as I recall, you're not strong enough to handle two peak-level masters simultaneously."

That hasty draw—Aiden concluded it was a thoughtless act.

Of course, Aetheris probably wanted to kill him.

Whatever had happened, neither Magnus nor Gideon seemed to have guided him through proper training.

All of it likely stemmed from his loss in the wager—a humiliation that had festered ever since.

"Senior Brother," Aiden called softly.

His gaze was steady, as clear as a mirror and as calm as a still pond.

"Are you struggling?"

Their eyes met in the moonlit night.

From Aetheris's bloodshot gaze, both Aiden and Vera could read the resentment burning within.

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"If you tell me what happened, I'll help you," Aiden offered sincerely.

"You must think I'm an idiot," Aetheris spat, grinding his teeth.

Then, with a sharp motion, he sheathed his sword.

But just as quickly, his left hand shifted, grabbing the hilt of his Cherry Blossom Sword in a reverse grip.

He prepared to draw.